Serie A preview: Juve look to bounce back

Juventus will be hoping they can bounce back to winning ways in Serie A, as the league leaders host local rivals Torino at the weekend.

The Italian champions have now gone two games without a league win, failing to score at home to Lazio before slumping to a 1-0 loss away to AC Milan.

In their promotion season, Torino have been more than impressive in the top flight, losing just one of seven away games – their trip to Roma earlier in November.

But away score draws to Lazio and Napoli – both sides that occupy the top-six – will give Giampiero Ventura’s men confidence of matching it with Juve in Turin on Saturday.

What won’t give the visitors confidence is the fact they have not toppled their rivals since 1995 – with the powerhouses failing to lose their past 12 head-to-head clashes – and making matters worse for Torino, they haven’t scored against Juve in six matches dating back to 2002.

Either way, the two sides’ first clash since 2009 is sure to pack plenty of fire as bragging rights are on the line once again.

AC Milan can climb above Catania with a win over their mid-table rivals on Friday, when they do battle at the Stadio Angelo Massimino.

Massimiliano Allegri’s side have won back-to-back matches for the first time since May, with a Champions League win over Anderlecht and a momentous victory over Juventus in the league at their last start.

All three points would take Milan to eighth in the table ahead of the weekend’s action, while if Catania can avoid defeat, they will go equal on points with seventh-placed Parma.

In Sunday’s fixtures, second-placed Napoli can continue to heap pressure on Juve when they take on bottom side Pescara in the early kick-off.

Inter Milan are under the microscope having lost two of their past three, and they will need to rally at home to an in-form Palermo on Sunday if they are to consolidate their standing in the top four.

Fiorentina – level on points with Inter, but above them on goal difference – will host Sampdoria, who have won their past two.

Siena will have a tough challenge to maintain their run of four games unbeaten, as the 19th-placed outfit host the sixth-placed Roma.

Roma have won three of their past four, but Siena boast an unusual form line for a side sitting in the relegation zone, with eight points from their past four.

In other Sunday fixtures, Bologna will welcome Atalanta, Chievo are on the road at Genoa, Parma will travel to Rome to take on Lazio, and Udinese play host to Cagliari.

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